Adding value and architectural excellence to every
project has been Sapa Building Systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission from
the beginning. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we provide market leading
architectural aluminium solutions that are innovative,
energy efficient and environmentally sustainable.

The prevalent culture
of tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
Networked Society
will be one of
increased openness,
transparency,
knowledge sharing
and peer collaboration.

4

According to the United Nations the world population
is likely to reach 9.1 billion by 2050 and it is estimated
that approximately 70% of humanity will be living in
cities by then. In these densely populated and expanding
urban areas effective exchange of information will be of
paramount importance to the development of the social
and economic fabric. Full-service broadband networks
and other new Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) will be required to support bandwidthintensive voice, video, and data applications at ever
lower prices and ever higher levels of quality. Eventually,
the rise of the new megacities will change the way
we live. Cities will function as Knowledge Hubs in an
expanding Knowledge Network underlying virtually all
economic and cultural activities.
The prevalent culture of tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Networked Society
will be one of increased openness, transparency,
knowledge sharing and peer collaboration. This culture
will foster new capabilities in society to innovate and
organise, to create and produce high grade goods
and services, to govern and sustain. It will facilitate
continuous transformation and produce higher efficiency
and richer experiences. Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s networked cities
will be challenged to provide solutions that help make
the world more sustainable. Hence, they are bound to be
major sources of global innovation.
As the culture of openness, networking and knowledge
sharing is taking shape and the technological restraints
disappear, we will see the gradual formation of a new
more connected society which has a much lighter
footprint on our fragile planet than humanity has today.

City dwellers are rejecting the impersonal ‘scale’ of
globalisation and corporations, and reconnecting with
their communities. They are living locally, growing their
own food and embracing small-scale, micro-brands. They
are making their urban lives feel as rural as possible. This
is why we call these pioneers ‘Rurban’ Revolutionaries.
Turning urban blocks into villages with a rural feel,
these Rurban Revolutionaries are redefining the look
and feel of community, culture, and consumption.
Their Rurban Revolution looks like the Swedish mobile
phone app that points users in the direction of the
nearest farm shop, or like Arthur Potts-Dawson’s new
co-operative corner shop, the People’s Supermarket.
It tastes of honey from Eagle Street Rooftop Farm’s
rooftop beehive and the herbs Christopher Nyerges finds
foraging in Los Angeles.
Governments, brands and innovators around the world
are working on ways to make greener, less wasteful, more
self-sufficient cities, which often grow their own food.
The Chinese government has commissioned architect
William McDonough, founder of the cradle-to-cradle (C2C)
theory, to develop six new C2C city districts. In one project,
near the city of Liuzhou, in the southern Guangxi province,
McDonough’s proposal features rooftop farms and
wastewater systems that convert sewage into fertiliser.
In Chicago, the Plant project launched this summer to
raise funds to create the city’s first vertical farm. In West
Yorkshire, the ‘Incredible Edible Todmorden’ project has
turned public spaces such as a railway station car park
and a retirement home’s lawn into vegetable beds, herb
gardens and orchards. In London, the Capital Growth
campaign aimed to create 2,012 new food-growing spaces
in the city by the end of 2012.

02
the rurban
revolution

While Rurbanites
are focusing on making
their own homes and
neighbourhoods more
livable, sustainable,
self-sufficient and
human, the way they
are re-engineering
their cities is partly
in response to global
issues.

5

03
communal
living

The increasing number of households will cause housing
in towns to become dense. According to analysts,
societies all over the world will increasingly lean
towards the Japanese way of living. With this statement,
they refer both to the density of accommodation in Tokyo,
as well as the style of communal living familiar to the city.
The idea of shared communal space is a very appealing,
almost romantic one. People are indeed interested in
ways of bringing landscape into the city. And there are
effectively more and more examples of shared communal
spaces that are working.
Beyond communal living, local swapping will come back
into vogue. The Rurban focus on community means
Rurbanites prefer to share and swap with each other.
This brings people together and cuts down on resources.
Often, online social networks help to drive offline
contact. Car clubs such as Greenwheels and ConnectCar
in the Netherlands and Flexicar in Australia have proved
that city drivers are happy to share rather than own a car.

The environmental
and financial benefits
of sharing are obvious.
But by sharing things,
people can regain the
sense of local
community they
seem to have lost.

In Portland, Oregon, Bright Neighbor is a virtual home
for the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s real-life communities. On this secure site,
local residents can find and offer rides, share skills and
goods, organise events, and host and promote classes
and groups.
On San Diegoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crop Swapper websites, network
members arrange to exchange fresh homegrown
vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers. On LAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
NeighborGoods, they rent, borrow, lend and trade items
they own, such as a lawn mower or tennis racket. The
environmental and financial benefits of sharing are
obvious. It brings people together. By sharing things,
people can regain the sense of local community they
seem to have lost.

Herman Konings is master in theoretical (and consumer) psychology and founder of Belgian trend and future
research agency Pocket Marketing/nXt. As a renowned Belgian trendwatcher Konings is sought after as a speaker
by companies and organizations throughout the Benelux. In addition, his insights have been featured in Belgian/
Flemish and Dutch media since 1999.

6

More than half to three quarters of the buildings we
know today, will still be in use in 2050. Consequently,
rich and developed countries will have to envisage a
systematic retrofit of their existing constructions to
reduce their carbon footprint.
In less densely populated urban areas, such as the
suburbs of many American cities, a first step in
retrofitting would be to put very high density mixed-use
developments into new public transport node points.
This would revitalise the neighbourhood and create new
services without altering the face of the suburb itself. An
infrastructure network of new walking and cycle routes,
together with refashioned streets, renewable energy
capture, and car clubs are bound to reduce car use.
As a result of these developments some suburbs may
become increasingly populated, while others may be
abandoned and restored to agriculture. Urban planners
are aware of these effects and have begun incorporating
intensive food production in cities. For example, in
Wanzhang eco-city, in an area of China with huge water
shortages, urban designers propose an integrated urban
agriculture and food system replacing extensive wheat
and corn cropping with labour intensive vegetable and
fruit cropping. The strategy delivers 100% food security
for the new community and significantly reduces water
consumption, as well as doubling farming income and
increasing agriculture jobs by 50%.

04
retrofitting
cities

More than half to three quarters of the buildings we know today,
will still be in use in 2050. Consequently, we will have to envisage a
systematic retrofit of existing buildings to reduce their carbon
footprint.

a
dedicated
partner
Sapa Building System is concentrating its R&D and Marketing to fully meet the challenges of the future. When it
comes to retrofitting existing buildings with energy efficient solutions, our wide range of products have a proven
history of success. The Elegance 72 curtain walling system is especially suitable for rejuvenating and upgrading
existing constructions.
In the race towards passive energy buildings Sapa Building System provides energy solutions integrating photovoltaic
generation into aluminium faรงades. This results in low cost, sustainable power and the opportunity to combine clean
energy, innovative building design with cutting edge thermal insulation solutions and the exact configuration of
solar shading needed to achieve the perfect balance on each individual building.
With Sapa Building System you have a dedicated partner that listens to your specific needs and aims to provide the
optimised solution for your construction project, new build as well as renovation. Sapa Building System teams will
accompany you all along the construction or redevelopment project.

7

Collaborating
on successful
building solutions
by Eduardo Souto de Moura

slimslide

My first impressions of Sapa products are associated to observing an aluminium-based flower container
solution at the Sapa’s Shape magazine when I was sketching the plans for Maia city main square development.
The idea of reliable good quality of metallurgic products associated to Swedish industrial products soon
came to my mind. Hasselblad cameras or Volvo cars are a good example of that. Now I know that Sapa also
matches these quality standards.
So when I was invited by Sapa Building System to design a lean, efficient, affordable sliding window solution
[Slimslide], to compete against other European top-branded products, I was keen to accept the challenge
because I found that using the strength properties of materials like glass and aluminium, I could create a
clean, light solution for windows and doors, maximizing the light openings through the high rigidity of glazing
allied to the high resistant minimalist structural frames in aluminium.
I found a great empathy and flexibility from Sapa Portugal team to assist and support me in the conception
and development of solutions with the willingness and patience to make the necessary adjustments in shapes
and hardware configurations. The result was very satisfactory so recently we had the chance of repeating
the experience with enhanced solutions based on thermally broken profiles [Slimslide TB and Slimcase].

slimcase

The building systems industry is continually subject to new technical and aesthetical requests from
contemporary architecture, aiming at improved creative and efficient solutions so opportunities for new
developments on windows, doors and façades are endless. I know that Sapa has great products and holds the
potential and seeks for the development of innovative products. Hence I can envisage the need for curtain
walling solutions where the windows and doors, solar shading, ventilation, energy conservation and other
solutions can be fully integrated. And we can and should do it because that is the FUTURE.

Eduardo Souto de Moura

* Eduardo Souto de Moura, Portuguese Architect, born in 1952 at Porto, winner of 2011 Pritzker Award- Architect
of the Year, is usually associated to the “Escola do Porto”, the architectural trend recognized by its lean, straight
lines and full of natural light to which Siza Vieira, another famous architect also belongs. The vast works in
both residential and public works cover a diversified range of landmark projects: Braga Stadium, Casa das
Historias Paula Rego Museum, Pousada Santa Maria do Bouro, Oporto Metro Stations. Projects with SBS
products include Office building in Avenida da Boa Vista- Porto, Hotel and Tourism School in Portalegre, Viana
do Castelo Coliseum among other.

Education
INSPIRIA SCIENCE CENTER
Sarpborg - Norway
Inspiria Science Center is the result of a
strategy to turn knowledge into the most
important asset of the Ă&#x2DC;stfold region. This is
reflected in the centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities as well as
in its architectural ambitions.
Architect: A ART architecs A/S

12

13

In an attempt to reconsider
and redefine the future learning
environment, Inspiria Science
Center has chosen to combine
communication and architecture
into an all-encompassing project
which inspires and excites
experience by forming new spaces
for learning.

14

15

health
Hospital de Braga
Braga - Portugal
The New Hospital of Braga is a multifunctional building offering its occupants a comfortable and luminous environment thanks to
the judicious use of building materials.
Architect: BM Concept
Constructor: Somague, Edifer, MSF
Fabricator: Edimetal

offices
AVC BUILDING
Kortrijk - Belgium
‘An open house,’ literally and figuratively, that
was AVC’s central premise for its new building in the Evolis enterprise zone near Kortrijk. Architects Devolder presented a design
which hit the nail on the head.
Architect: Devolder Architecten

Health
Val ais de CĹ&#x201C;ur
Valais de coer - Switzerland
Tried and tested technology along with
designer glazing have turned this Swiss
home for people with brain injuries into a
functional and aesthetic highlight.
Architect: Bonnard Woef fray

35

This award-winning building by Swiss architects Bonnard
Woeffray is a new home for people with brain injuries. It relies
on tried and tested technology in conjunction with a building
management system. The designer glazing with automated
Sapa Building Systems C125 sliding doors behind it makes the
building into a functional but also aesthetic highlight, backed by
the breathtaking scenery of the mountains of the Valais.

36

37

38

HOUSING
Media gardens
Brussel - Belgium
A former industrial estate had to make way
for about 280 apartments covering 60 to
145 sqm, spread across five new buildings,
some of which are interconnected.
Architect: Ar ter

39

EDUCATION
NOKKEL AND SKOLE
Moss - Norway
Pre-existing sports facilities were integrated
into the new school. Joint use of some of the
schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amenities with local residents is to
support community building.
Architect: Heggelund & Koxvold AS
Arkitekter MNAL

The new school building and some
pre-existing sports facilities have
been integrated in one new facility
for students and staff. Joint use
with the local residents is to support
community building.

Offices
Bic Tal atona
Luanda - Angola
Located in the south of Luanda, in Talatona, this
building stands out from its surroundings through
its shading awnings, making the building’s division into floors clearly visible from the outside.
Architect: Vinagre & Côr te-Real
Constructor: Zerca
Fabricator: Per filíder

44

45

housing
VARYAP MERIDIAN
Istanbul - Turkey
The Varyap Meridian Project in Istanbul was
specifically designed to be environmentally
friendly. It was built using high quality materials and components only, some of which
carry the Sapa brand name.
Architect: RMJM Architecture

The architects chose the Sapa Building
System Elegance 72 unitised system as
it best matched the original design and
offered outstanding earthquake resistance.

54

55

56

EDUCATION
R.U. C aen
Caen - France
Apart from the aesthetic quality of the
design, there is also a slightly unconventional
aspect, which resides in the sun screen function of the covers that were chosen for this
Elegance 52 HL horizontal faรงade frame.
Architect: ATAUB

57

58

housing
DUM ANK AYA IKON
Istanbul - Turkey
One of the striking features of the three
41 storey tower buildings making up the
Dumankaya Ikon Project, is the curtain wall,
which Sapa Building System supplied.
Architect: Tago Architecture

59

60

Offices
ONE ANGEL SQUARE
Manchester - UK

An exceptional example of sustainable
design within the commercial sector. This
landmark building is the first office building
in Europe to achieve highest BREEAM rating
of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Outstandingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.
Architect: 3D Reid

61

The BREEAM rating did not occur by
accident. The Co-operative Group,
who commissioned the building
as their new HQ, has a tradition
of being at forefront of building
design and have a strong green
agenda. This iconic building is the
spearhead for the regeneration of its
surrounding area.

HOUSING
AK A SYA ACIBADEM
Istanbul - Turkey
The Akasya Ac覺badem Project was undertaken in three distinct steps and it comprised the construction of three 160 meters
high tower blocks and three 60 meters high
horizontal blocks.
Architect: Workshop Mimarlar

72

73

74

75

76

77

78

OFFICES
haakon vilgate
Stockholm - Sweden
Because this building is on the yellow list of the
Cultural Heritage Management Office, only a
limited number of changes were allowed. The
new profiles had to look exactly the same as the
old ones in terms of colour, material and form.
Architect: ARCASA Arkitekter AS

TRANSPORT
Utrecht station
Utrecht - Netherlands
The complete overhaul of the Utrecht Central
Railway Station is a perfect and unique example of how a large public building with many
features can be integrated into the existing
urban fabric of a densely populated city.
Architect: Benthem Crouwel Architekten

offices
Oficina Vidre Negre
Cuneo - Italy
Oficina Vidre Negre was conceived as a contemporary sculpture, or even as a symbol of
dynamic and continuous development.
Architect: Damilano studio Architects

88

89

HOUSING
Vill a Super C annes
Cannes - France
The large bay windows with their very slender uprights offer a superb view over Cannes
bay. The contemporary aspect is magnified
by the anodised aluminium frames.
Architect: Gilles Broussard

90

91

92

93

leisure
NaturHistorisches museum
Mainz - Germany
When designing the extension to the Natural History Museum in Mainz, the architectsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
primary concern was to provide an unobstructed view into the museum.
Architect: Plum & Schlemmer

94

95

96

TRANSPORT
Guillemins R ailway station
LiĂ¨ge - Belgium
LiĂ¨ge-Guillemins railway station is one of
the three Belgian stations on the high-speed
rail network. Sapa Building System provided
high-grade products for the construction of
the roof of the landmark building.
Architect: Santiago Calatrava Llc

97

An imposing yet elegant structure now graces
the station complex in LiĂ¨ge. It is based on
the creative plans of the Spanish architect
Santiago Calatrava. Sapa is proud of its
contribution to this landmark building.

98

99

100

101

HOUSING
thurso street
Glasgow- UK
Built as part of a regeneration program, the
building provides student accommodation
for over 400 students in Glasgow, consisting of 360 cluster bedrooms, 45 studios and
communal facilities.
Architect: Watkin Jones

Offices
Vodacom
Maputo - Mozambique
Modern, vertical and rhythmic architecture,
are some of the adjectives that well describe
the Vodacom headquarters in Maputo city,
Mozambique.
Architect: ADA
Constructor: ContruĂ§Ăľes Catembe

120

121

122

HOTEL
Cl arion Hotel
Trondheim - Norway
The Clarion Hotel redefines the traditional
typology of the atrium hotel and gives way
to a new architectural lay-out expressing a
strong identity.
Architect: Space Group Arkitek ter AS